THE ROBBERY 77
ONE OF OUR ENTERTAINMENTS 92
MERRY JERRY AND HIS FRIENDS 108
THE GENTLEMAN, THE DOCTOR, AND DICKY 123
POACHERS AND NIGHTBIRDS 140
JIM BILLINGS 155
OUR PARLOUR COMPANY 175
A QUEER CHRISTMAS 192
JACK BROWN 215




THE CHEQUERS.

INTRODUCTION.


It is risky to go home with some of the company from the Chequers, for
good-fellowship is by no means fostered in the atmosphere of a
public-house. The creatures who write about the cheerful glass, and the
jovial evening, and the drink that mellows the heart, know nothing of
the sad work that goes on in a boozing-place, while the persons who draw
wild pictures of impossible horrors are worse than the hired men who
write in publican's papers. It is the plain truth that is wanted, and
one year of life in a public-house teaches a man more than all the
strained lectures and colourless statistics. I am going to give a series
of pictures that will set forth every phase of public-house life. It is
useless to step casually into a bar, and then turn out a flashy
article. If you want to know how Drink really acts on the inner life of